UC  SOUTHERN  REGIONAL  LIBRARY  FACILITY 


AA      000  084  813    5 


HISTORICAL    MEMOIRS 

Of  the  Late  Fight  at 

PIGGWACKET, 

with  a 

SERMON 

Occasion'd  by  the  Fall  of  the   Brave 
CAPT.     JOHN      LOVEWELL 

And   Several  of  his   Valiant  Company, 

In  The  Late 

HEROIC  ACTION  there. 

Pronounc'd   at   Bradford,  May,    16.    1725. 

By  THOMAS  SYMMES,  V.  D.  M. 
THE   SECOND    EDITION    CORRECTED. 


Ifa.  3.  25.    Thy  Men  shall  fall  by  the  Sword,  and  thy 
Mighty  in  the  War. 


BOSTON  in  New  England  : 

Printed  by  B.  Green  Jun.  for  S.  Gerrish,  near  the 

Brick  Meeting-House  in  Cornhill.      1725. 


UCSB    LIBRARY 


AN    HISTORICAL    PREFACE,   OR   MEMOIRS 
OF  THE  BATTLE,  AT  PIGGWACKET. 


When  Joshua  with  his  Chosen  Soldiers,  had  Difcom- 
fited  Amalek,  and  his  People,  with  the  Edge  of  the 
Sword;  (while  Moses  with  the  Rod  of  GOD  in  his  up- 
lifted hands,  supported  by  Aaron  and  Hur,  made  Inter- 
cession to  the  GOD  of  Armies,  on  the  Top  of  the  Hill) 
the  Lord  said  to  Moses,  Write  THIS  for  a  Memorial  in  a 
Book,  and  rehears  it  in  the  Ears  of  Joshua,  Exod.  XVII. 
14.  For  this  would  be  an  unspeakable  Encouragement 
to  that  Renowned  General,  in  his  Wars  with  the  Aborig- 
ines of  Canaan. 

NOW  from  this  Story  we  learn,  not  only,  That  if  Israel 
would  prevail  against  their  Enemies,  they  should  all,  but 
their  Magistrates  and  Ministers  especially,  lift  up  and  keep 
up,  the  hand  of  Prayer:  But  also,  That  the  Remarkable 
Preservation  and  Success  of  Soldiers  in  Fighting  the 
Lords  Battles,  are  very  proper  to  be  Commemorated,  for 
the  Honour  of  GOD,  and  Encouragement  of  his  Servants, 
in  future  Expeditions,  and  Military  Actions. 

IN  Consideration  hereof,  I've  the  more  easily  comply'd 
with  the  Request  of  some  of  the  Publishers  of  the  Ensu- 
ing Sermon,  that  it  might  be  accompany'd  with  a  Narra- 
tive of  the  Memorable  Occasion  of  it. 

AND  tho'  I  at  first  propos'd  only  to  Reprint  the 
Relation  of  this  Action,  given  us  in  the  Public  News 
Papers;  yet  having  been  favour'd  with  a  more  particular 
account  from    the  Valorous  Captain  Wyman,  and  some 


6  HISTORICAL   MEMOIRS. 

others  of  good  Credit,  that  were  in  the  Engagement;  I 
hope  it  will  not  be  unacceptable  to  any,  and  am  sure  it 
will  be  very  grateful  to  some;  to  have  the  Story  Publish'd 
with  some  Enlargements.  And  particularly  to  make  a 
Public  Record  of  the  Names  of  those  Couragious  Soldiers, 
who  have  so  nobly  play'd  the  man  for  their  Country ; 
several  of  whom  have  been  grievously  Wounded,  &  others 
have  Died  in  the  Field  of  Battle,  or  of  the  Wounds 
they  there  Receiv'd  :  All  of  whose  Names  I  am  perswaded 
the  greatest  part  of  the  Country  will  allow,  deserve  to 
be  Transmitted  unenvi'd  to  Posterity,  with  very  bright 
Encomiums. 

'TWAS  then,  about  the  16th  of  April,  1725,  that  the 
Brave  Lovewell  began  his  March  from  Dunstable  for 
Piggwacket,  with  Forty-Six  Men  under  his  Command. 

WHEN  they'd  Travell'd  a  little  way,  Toby,  an  Indian 
falling  Lame,  was  oblig'd  to  return,  with  great  Reluc- 
tancy. 

WHEN  they  came  as  far  as  Contoocook,  one  Wm. 
Cummins  of  Dunstable  was  so  disabl'd  by  a  Wound  he'd 
Receiv'd  from  the  Enemy  some  time  before,  that  the 
Capt.  dismiss'd  him,  with  a  Kinsman  of  his  to  accom- 
pany him. 

THEN  thay  Travell'd  as  far  as  Ossipy,  and  there  one 
Benjamin  Kidder  of  Nutfield  falling  Sick;  the  Capt. 
made  a  Halt,  and  tarried  while  they  built  a  small  *Fortifi- 
cation,  for  a  place  of  Refuge  to  repair  too,  if  there  should 
be  Occasion.  Here  he  left  his  Doctor,  A  Serjent  and 
Seven  other  Men,  to  take  care  of  Kidder,  and  of  a  Con- 
siderable Quantity  of  Provision,  here  left  to  lighten  the 
Men,  and  facilitate  their  March;  and  for  a  Recruit  upon 
their  Return. 

WITH  his  Company  now  reduc'd  to  Thirty-Four  Men 
with  himself,  the  Capt.  Travell'd  to  Pigwacket,  which  is 
about  Forty  Miles  from  said  Fort. 

*[On  the  Daniel  Smith  Farm,  Ossipy.] 


HISTORICAL   MEMOIRS.  7 

THEIR  Names  that  made  up  this  Company  (expecting 
his  that  started  from  them  in  the  beginning  of  the  Battle, 
and  ran  back  to  the  Fort,  which  I'd  be  excus'd  from 
mentioning)  were  as  follow : 

Capt.       John  Lovewell,  (killed,) 

Lieut.      Josiah  Farwell,  (wounded,  died  by  the  way) 

Lieut.      Jonathan  Robbins,  (killed) 

Ensign    John  Harwood,  (killed) 

Serjent    Noah  Johnson,  (wounded) 

Robert  Usher,  (killed) 

Samuel  Whiting,  (wounded)  \  Dunstable 

*  [Serjent  Nathaniel  Woods] ,  (left  at  Fort) 

[William  Cummins] ,  (dismissed  &  sent  back) 

[Edward  Spooney] ,  (left  at  Fort.) 

[Ebenezer  Hulbert] ,  (left  at  Fort) 

[Benjamin  Hassell] ,  (deserted) 

[Toby,  an  Indian],  (sent  back.) 
Ensign   Seth  Wyman, 
Corpo.    Thomas -Richardson 

Timothy  Richardson,  (wounded)  )>      Woburn 

Ichabod  Johnson,  (killed) 

Josiah  Johnson,  (wounded) 

Eleazer  Davis,  (wounded) 

Josiah  Davis,  (killed) 

Josiah  Jones,  (wounded) 

David  Melvin 

Eleazer  Melvin  )     Concord 

Jacob  Farrah,  (killed) 

Joseph  Farrah 

[Isaac  Whitney],  (left  at  Fort) 

[Zachariah  Whitney] ,  (left  at  Fort) 
Mr.  Jonathan  Frie,  Chaplain  of  Andover,  (wounded  and  died  by  the 
way) 
Serjent  Jacob  Fullam,  of  Weston,  (killed) 
Corporal  Edward  Lingfield,  Nutfield 
[Benjamin  Kidder] ,  "   (left  at  Fort) 

[John  Goffe] ,  "   (left  at  Fort) 

Jonathan  Kittridge,  (killed)  )         ...     . 

Solomon  Kies,  (wounded)  ) 

*  [Bracketed  names  added.] 


HISTORICAL   MEMOIRS. 

John  Jefts,  (killed) 

Daniel  Woods,  (killed) 

Thomas  Woods,  (killed) 

John  Chamberlain,  (wounded) 

Elias  Barron,  (wounded,  &  died  by  the  way) 

Isaac  Lakin,  (wounded) 

Joseph  Gilson 

"  [John  Gilson]  ,  (left  at  Fort) 

Ebenezer  Ayer, 

Abiel  Asten 

>     Haverhill 
[Zebediah  Asten] ,  (left  at  Fort) 

[Dr.  William  Ayer] ,  (left  at  Fort) 


FROM  the  Thursday  before  the  Battle,  the  Company- 
were  apprehensive  they  were  Discover'd  and  Dog'd  by 
the  Enemy:  And  on  Friday  Night,  the  Watch  heard  the 
Indians  about  the  Camp  and  Alarm'd  the  Company,  but 
it  being  very  Dark,  they  could  make  no  further  Dis- 
covery. 

SATURDAY  the  Eighth  of  May,  while  they  were  at 
Prayers,  very  Early  in  the  Morning,  they  heard  a  Gun  ; 
and  sometime  after  spy'd  an  Indian  on  a  Point,  that  ran 
into  Saco  Pond. 

THEY  now  concluded  that  the  design  of  the  Gun,  &  of 
the  Indian's  Discovering  himself,  was  to  draw  them  that 
way:  And  expecting  without  fail  to  be  Attack'd ;  It  was 
now  proposed,  whether  it  were  Prudent  to  venture  an 
Engagement  with  the  Enemy,  (who  they  perceiv'd  were 
now  sufficiently  Alarm'd,)  or,  endeavour  a  speedy  Re- 
treat. The  Men  Generally  and  Boldly  Answered,  "  We 
came  out  to  meet  the  Enemy ;  we  have  all  along  Pray'd 
GOD  we  might  find  em ;  and  we  had  rather  trust  Provi- 
dence with  our  Lives,  yea  Dy  for  our  Country,  than  try 
to  Return  without  seeing  them,  if  we  may,  and  be  called 
Cowards  for  our  Pains." 

*  [Bracketed  names  added.] 


HISTORICAL   MEMOIRS.  9 

THE  Captain  readily  comply'd  to  lead  them  on, 
though  not  without  Manifesting  some  Apprehensions ;  — 
And  (supposing  the  Enemy  were  a  Head  of  'em,  when 
as  it  prov'd,  they  were  in  the  Rear)  Ordered  the  Men  to 
lay  down  their  Packs,  &  March  with  greatest  Caution, 
and  in  utmost  readiness. 

WHEN  they'd  March'd  about  a  Mile  and  Half,  or 
two  Miles,  Ensign  Wyman  spy'd  an  Indian  coming  toward 
them,  whereupon  he  gave  a  Sign,  and  they  all  squat,  and 
and  let  him  come  on  :  presently  several  Guns  were  Fir'd 
at  him ;  upon  which  the  Indian  Fir'd  upon  Captain 
Lovewell  with  Bever-Shot  and  Wounded  him  Mortally 
(as  is  supposed)  tho'  he  made  little  Complaint,  and  was 
still  able  to  Travel,  and  at  the  same  time  Wounded  Mr. 
Samuel  Whiting:  Immediately  Wyman  Fir'd  at  the 
Indian  and  Kill'd  him ;  and  Mr.  Frie  and  another 
Scalp'd  him. 

THEY  then  March'd  back  toward  their  Packs,  (which 
the  Enemy  in  the  mean  while  had  seiz'd)  and  about  Ten 
a  Clock,  when  they  came  pretty  near  where  they'd  laid 
'em,  on  the  North  East  end  of  Saco  Pond,  in  a  plain 
Place,  where  there  were  few  Trees  and  scarce  any  Brush  ; 
The  Indians  rose  up  in  Front  and  Rear,  in  two  Parties, 
and  ran  toward  the  English  Three  or  Four  Deep,  with 
their  Guns  Presented :  And  the  English  also  Presented 
in  a  Moment  and  ran  to  meet  them ;  and  when  they 
came  within  a  few  Yards,  they  Fir'd  on  both  sides,  and 
the  Indians  fell  amain,  but  the  English  (most,  if  not  all) 
'scap'd  the  first  Shot,  and  drove  the  Indians  several  Rods, 
both  sides  Firing  three  or  four  Rounds.  But  the  Indians 
being  more  than  double  in  Number  to  our  Men,  &  having 
soon  Kill'd  Captain  Lovewell,  Mr.  Fullam,  (only  Son  of 
Major  Fullam  of  Weston,)  Ensign  Harwood,  John  Jefts, 
Jonathan  Kittridge,  Daniel  Woods,  Ichabod  Johnson, 
Thomas  Woods  and  Josiah  Davis ;    and   wounded  Lieu- 


IO  HISTORICAL   MEMOIRS. 

tenant  Farwell,  Lieutenant  Robbins  and  Robert  Usher, 
in  the  place  where  the  Fight  began,  and  striving  to  Sur- 
round the  rest;  The  Word  was  given,  to  Retreat  to  the 
Pond,  which  was  done  with  a  great  deal  of  good  Con- 
duct, and  prov'd  a  vast  service  to  the  English  (in  Cover- 
ing their  Rear,)  tho'  the  Indians  got  the  Ground  where 
our  Dead  lay. 

THE  Fight  continu'd  very  Furious  &  Obstinate,  till 
towards  Night.  The  Indians  Roaring  and  Yelling  and 
Howling  like  Wolves,  Barking  like  Dogs,  and  making  all 
Sorts  of  Hideous  Noises  ;  The  English  Frequently  Shout- 
ing and  Huzzaing,  as  they  did  after  the  first  Round.  At 
one  time,  Captain  Wyman  is  Confident,  they  were  got  to 
Powawing,  by  their  striking  on  the  Ground,  and  other 
odd  Motions,  but  at  length  Wyman  crept  up  toward  'em 
and  Firing  among  'em,  shot  the  Chief  Powaw  and  brake 
up  their  Meeting. 

SOME  of  the  Indians  holding  up  Ropes,  ask'd  the 
English  if  they'd  take  Quarter,  but  were  Answer'd 
Briskly,  they'd  have  none  but  at  the  Muzzle  oi  their 
Guns. 

ABOUT  the  middle  of  the  Afternoon,  the  Ingenious 
Mr.  Jonathan  Frie,  only  Son  of  Captain  James  Frie  of 
Andover,  a  Young  Gentleman  of  a  Liberal  Education, 
and  who  was  Chaplain  to  the  Company,  and  greatly 
Belov'd  by  them,  for  his  Excellent  Performances  and 
good  Behaviour,  and  who  fought  with  Undaunted  Cour- 
age till  that  time  o'  Day,  was  Mortally  Wounded.  But 
when  he  could  Fight  no  longer,  He  Pray'd  Audibly, 
several  times,  for  the  Preservation  and  Success  of  the 
Residue  of  the  Company. 

'TWAS  after  Sun  set  when  the  Enemy  drew  off,  and 
left  our  Men  the  Field :  And  it's  suppos'd  not  above 
Twenty  of  the  Enemy  went  off  well.  About  Midnight 
the  English  got  together,  and  found  Jacob  Farrah,  just 


HISTORICAL   MEMOIRS.  II 

expiring  by  the  Pond,  and  Lieutenant  Robbins,  and 
Usher  unable  to  travel.  Lieutenant  Robbins  desir'd 
they'd  Charge  his  Gun  and  leave  it  with  him,  (which 
they  did)  for  says  he.  The  Indians  will  come  in  the 
Morning  to  Scalp  me,  and  I'll  kill  one  more  of  'em  if  I 
can.  Eleven  more  that  were  Wounded,  who  were  Lieut. 
Farwell,  Mr.  Frie,  Serjent  Johnson,  Timothy  Richardson, 
Josiah  Johnson,  Samuel  Whiting,  Elias  Barron,  John 
Chamberlain,  Isaac  Lakin,  Eleazer  Davis,  &  Josiah 
Jones,  March'd  off  the  Ground,  with  the  Nine  that  re- 
ceived no  considerable  Wound,  who  were  Ensign 
Wyman,  Edward  Lingfield,  Thomas  Richardson,  Two 
Melvins,  Ebenezer  Ayer,  Abiel  Asten,  Joseph  Farrah  and 
Joseph  Gilson,  who  did  not  perceive  they  were  way-laid, 
or  pursued  by  the  Enemy,  tho'  they  knew  our  Men  had 
no  Provision,  and  must  needs  be  very  faint.  Four  of 
the  Wounded  Men,  viz.  Farwell,  Frie,  Davis  and  Jones, 
after  they'd  Travell'd  about  a  Mile  and  Half,  found 
themselves  unable  to  go  any  further,  and  with  their  free 
Consent,  the  rest,  hoping  for  a  Recruit  at  the  Fort,  and 
to  come  back  with  Fresh  Hands  to  relieve  them,  kept  on 
their  March.  But  one  Morning  as  they  were  passing  a 
thick  Wood,  they  Divided  into  Three  Companies  for  fear 
of  making  a  Track,  by  which  the  Enemy  might  follow 
them.  One  of  the  Companies  came  upon  Three  Indians, 
who  pursu'd  'em  sometimes;  And  Elias  Barron  one  of 
that  Party  stray'd  from  the  rest,  and  got  over  Ossipy 
River,  by  the  side  of  which,  his  Gun  Case  was  found,  & 
he  has   ne'r  been  heard  of  since. 

ELEVEN  in  another  Party  recover'd  the  Fort,  and  to 
their  great  surprise,  found  it  Deserted.  For  in  the  begin- 
ning of  the  Battle,  the  man  that  I  promised  not  to  Name, 
ran  directly  to  the  Fort,  and  gave  the  Men  Posted  there, 
such  an  account  of  what  had  happen'd,  that  they  all  made 
the  best  of  their  way  Home.     There  came  in  also  to  the 


12  HISTORICAL   MEMOIRS. 

Fort,  One  Solomon  Kies,  who  having  fought  till  he'd 
receiv'd  three  Wounds,  &  lost  so  much  Blood  he  cou'l 
not  stand,  he  crawl'd  to  Ensign  Wyman  in  the  heat  of 
the  Battle,  &  told  him  "  He  was  a  Dead  Man;  But  (says 
he)  if  it  be  possible,  I'll  get  out  of  the  way  of  the  Indi- 
ans, that  they  mayn't  get  my  Scalp."  This  Kies  Provi- 
dentially found  a  Canoe  in  the  Pond,  &  roll'd  himself  into 
it,  &  was  driven  by  the  Wind  some  Miles  toward  the 
Fort;  when  being  Wonderfully  Strengthen'd,  he  got  to 
the  Fort,  as  soon  as  the  Eleven  aforesaid  :  &  they  all  came 
into  Dunstable,  May  13th.  at  Night.  O  that  Men  would 
Praise  the  Lord  for  his  Goodness,  and  for  His  Wonderful 
Works  toward  the  Children  of  Men. 

May  15th.  came  in  at  Dunstable  four  more  of  our 
Soldiers,  whereof  Ensign  Wyman  was  one ;  who  says, 
"They'd  no  sort  of  Food  from  Saturday  Morning  till 
Wednesday  following,  and  yet  scarce  felt  at  all  Hunger- 
bitten.  They  then  caught  two  Mouse-Squirrels,  which 
they  roasted  whole  &  found  them  a  sweet  Morsel.  After- 
ward they  Kill'd  some  Partridges  and  other  Game,  & 
were  Comfortably  Supply'd,  till  they  got  home. 

Eleazer  Davis  came  in  at  Berwick,  &  reports,  (as  I'm 
Inform'd)  that  He  &  the  other  Three  left  with  him,  when 
they'd  waited  some  Days  for  the  Return  of  the  Men  from 
the  Fort,  &  at  length  despair'd  of  their  coming,  tho' 
their  Wounds  Stank  &  were  Corrupt,  &  they  were  ready 
to  Dy  with  Famine;  yet  they  all  travell'd  several  Miles 
together,  till  Mr.  Frie  desired  Davis  &  Farwell  not  to  hin- 
der themselves  any  longer  for  his  sake,  for  that  he  found 
himself  Dying,  &  so  lay  down,  telling  them  "  He  should 
never  rise  more:  Charging  Davis,  if  it  should  Please 
GOD  to  bring  him  home,  to  go  to  his  Father,  &  tell  him, 
that  he  expected  in  a  few  Hours  to  be  in  Eternity;  and 
that  He  was  not  afraid  to  Dy."  Whereupon  they  left 
him;   and    this  Hopeful    Gentleman  Mr.  Frie,  who  had 


HISTORICAL   MEMOIRS.  1 3 

the    Journal  of   the  March  in  his  Pocket,  has  not  been 
heard  of  since. 

Lieutenant  Farwell,  who  has  been  very  much  &  no 
doubt  Deservedly  Applauded,  was  also  left  by  Davis  at  a 
few  Miles  distance  from  the  Fort  &  not  heard  of  since. 
But  Davis  getting  to  the  Fort  and  finding  Provision  there, 
tarried  and  Refresh'd  himself  and  recover'd  strength  to 
Travel  to  the  place  mention'd. 

Josiah  Jones  another  of  the  Four,  came  in  at  Saco. 

Since  the  Action,  Col.  Tyng  with  a  Company,  have 
been  on  the  spot,  and  found  and  Buried  Twelve  of  our 
Men.  They  also  found  where  the  Indians  had  Buried 
Three  of  their  Men,  and  when  they  were  dug  up,  One  of 
them  was  known  to  be  the  Bold  PAUGUS,  who  has  been 
such  a  Scourge  to  Dunstable;  but  if  he  be  gone  to  his 
own  place,  He'll  cease  from  Troubling. 

HIS  Honour,  Our  Excellent  Lieutenant  Governourhas 
been  Pleas'd  to  give  Ensign  Seth  Wyman,  a  Captains 
Commission,  since  his  Return,  as  a  Reward  for  His  Val- 
our. And  it's  much  to  be  Desired  that  He,  and  all  that 
are  Return'd  from  Piggwacket,  to  their  own  Houses,  will 
consider  and  show  what  Great  Things  GOD  has  done  for 
them.  And  that  they  and  all  our  Brave  Soldiers,  will 
still  take  for  their  Motto,  when  going  forth  to  War,  the 
Inscription  made  by  Moses  on  his  Altar  of  Gratitude, 
after  the  Defeat  of  Amalek,  JEHOVAH-NISSI,  The 
Lord  in  my  Banner. 

BUT  thus  I've  related  the  Story  of  the  Action  at  Pigg- 
wacket, according  to  the  best  Information  I  cou'd  obtain ; 
and  hope  there  are  no  Material,  I'm  sure,  there  are  no 
Willing  or  Careless  Mistakes  in  it. 

AND  I've  only  to  add, 

THAT  whoever  Considers  the  Distance  our  People  were 
at  from  any  English  Settlement,  in  a  Howling  Wilder- 
ness, and   very  far  in  the  Enemies  Country,  who  were  at 


14  HISTORICAL   MEMOIRS. 

Home,  &  more  than  double  the  Number  of  our  Men  ; 
Their  Fighting  from  Morning  to  Night  in  a  long,  Hot 
Day,  without  any  Refreshment ;  The  number  Kill'd  and 
Wounded,  amongst  whom  were  some,  that  were  Persons 
of  Distinction  on  both  sides;  will  doubtless  grant  that 
this  Action  Merits  a  Room  in  the  History  of  our  New- 
English  Wars,  whenever  a  Continuance  of  it  shall  be 
Publish'd  If  any  judge,  I've  observ'd  some  Circum- 
stances in  this  Action  too  Minute,  I've  only  to  say,  if  some 
such  Persons  or  their  Relations  had  been  in  the  Action,  it's 
possible  they  would  not  have  been  of  this  Opinion. 
However,  those  who  I  am  firstly  Oblig'd  to  Gratify,  wont 
easily  come  into  their  Sentiments  in  this  matter.  And  I 
must  beg  of  the  others  to  forgive  me  this  Wrong,  and 
that  they'd  only  consider,  the  Different  Taste  of  Readers, 
&  consequently  the  extreme  Difficulty,  if  not  Impossibil- 
ity of  pleasing  every  Body,  in  a  Performance  of  this 
Nature.  And  yet  none  would  be  more  willing  to  do  it, 
than  the  Unworthy  Author,  who  is  a  Hearty  Lover  of 
His  Country,  and  of  all  Good  Men  of  every  Denomination. 

T.  Symmes. 

AN  ATTESTATION. 
We  whose  Names  are  hereunto  Subscrib'd,  having  had 
the  Preceeding  Narrative  carefully  Read  to  us  (tho'  we 
can't  each  of  us,  indeed,  Attest  to  every  particular 
Article  &  Circumstance  in  it,)  yet  we  can  and  do  Aver 
that  the  Substance  of  it  is  True ;  and  are  well  Satis- 
fy'd  in  the  Truth  of  the  whole. 

Seth  Wymam. 

Ebenezer  Ayer. 

Abiel  Asten. 

[Capt.  Seth  Wyman  died  September  5,  1725.] 


TO  MARK  THE  FIELD  OF  LOVEWELL'S  FIGHT 
ON  THE  8TH   DAY  OF  MAY  1725  BETWEEN 
COMPANY  OF  MASSACHUSETTS  RANGERS  OF  34  MEN 
AND  80  WARRIORS  OF  THE  PEQUAWKET  TRIBE 

LED  BY  PAUGUS  IN  A  CONTEST  LASTING 

FROM   EARLY  MORNING  UNTIL  AFTER  SUNSET 

THE  INDIANS  WERE  REPULSED 

AND  THEIR  CHIEF  KILLED. 


TO  THE 

MEMORY  OF 

CAPT.  JOHN  LOVEWELL 

OF  DUNSTABLE 

THESE 

LIEUT.  JONATHAN   ROBBINS 

12  KILLED 

ENSIGN  JOHN  HARWOOD 

ON  THE 

ROBERT  USHER 

U 

FIELD 

SERJT.  JACOB  FULHAM 

WESTON 

OF 

JACOB  FARRAR 

CONCORD 

BATTLE 

JOSIAH   DAVIS 

" 

WERE 

THOMAS  WOODS 

GROTON 

FOUND 

DANIEL  WOODS 

" 

AND 

JOHN  JEFTS 

" 

BURIED 

ICHABOD  JOHNSON 

WOBURN 

BY 

JONATHAN  KITTREDGE 

BILLERICA 

COL  TYNG 

LIEUT.  JOSIAH  FARWELL  OF  DUNSTABLE 
JONATHAN  FRYE,  CHAPLAIN,  OF  ANDOVER 
ELIAS  BARRON  OF  GROTON 
WERE  WOUNDED  AND  DIED  BY  THE  WAY 
9  OTHERS  WERE  WOUNDED 


THE  SURVIVORS  LED  BY  ENSIGN  SETH  WYMAN 
BEGAN  THE  HOMEWARD  MARCH  AFTER    MIDNIGHT 


ERECTED  BY  THE  SOCIETY  OF  COLONIAL  WARS 

IN  THE  COMMONWEALTH  OF  MASSACHUSETTS 

I7TH  JUNE   1904 


BRONZE   TABLET   36  X  24 


1 6  HISTORICAL   MEMOIRS. 

Journal  of  Capt.  John  Lovewell  and  eighty- 
seven  soldiers  under  his  Command  in  their  march  in 
quest  of  ye  Indian  Enemy,  by  Virtue  of  a  Commission 
from  the  Hon.  Wm.  Dummer,  Esq.,  Lieutenant  Governor 
and  Commander  in  Chief,  etc. 

Jan  27,  1724,  Groton  and  Lancaster  men  came  to  Dunstable. 

28th,  Haverhill  and  Billerica  men  came  to  Dunstable. 

29th,  we  mustered  and  came  over  the  River. 

30th,  we  travelled  up  to  Nantecuck  which  was  five  miles.  31st, 
we  travelled  10  miles  encamped  above  Cohasset.  Feb'y  1st,  We 
Travelled  10  miles  and  encamped  about  3  miles  above  Amuskeeg. 

2d,  We  Travelled  15  miles  and  encamped  at  Penny  Cook. 

3d,  We  Travelled  12  miles  and  encamped  at  Contoocock. 

4th,  We  lay  still  and  sent  out  Scouts. 

5th,  We  Travelled  8  miles  towards  Winnepeseocket,  and  en- 
camped. 6th,  we  Travelled  5  miles  and  encamped  at  The  Lower 
Pond,  below  Winnepeseocket  River. 

7th,  one  of  our  men  being  cut  very  bad  with  an  axe,  we  sent  6 
men  home  with  him,  and  travelled  8  miles  that  day.  8th,  We  lay 
still  by  reason  of  a  storm  of  snow.  9th,  We  Travelled  14  miles,  & 
Encamped  at  the  N.W.  corner  of  Winnepeseoket. 

10th,  We  Travelled  16  miles,  &  encamped  at  the  North  side  of 
Cusumpe  Pond.  11th,  We  Travelled  N.  &  by  E.  from  said  Pond, 
&  encamped  &  sent  out  Scouts,  and  some  of  our  Scouts  thought 
they  discovered  smokes,  &  others  thought  they  heard  Guns.  12th, 
We  lay  still  &  sent  out  Scouts,  who  discovered  nothing. 

13th,  We  lay  still  &  sent  out  Scoutts,  &  for  want  of  Provisions 
thirty  of  our  men  went  home. 

14th,  We  travelled  10  miles  Towards  the  Easterly  part  of  the 
White  Mountains,  &  encamped  upon  a  branch  of  Saco  River;  sent 
out  Scouts  and  killed  a  Black  Moose  that  day. 

15,  We  lay  still  and  sent  out  Scouts.  16th,  We  Travelled  6 
miles,  &  came  upon  the  Tracks  of  Indians,  &  we  left  16  men  with 
our  packs,  &  the  rest  pursued  the  tracks  till  dark  that  night,  and 
staid  there  all  night,  and  on  the  7th  we  followed  their  tracks  till 
about  8  o'clock,  &  then  we  found  where  the  Indians  had  lain  twenty- 
four  hours  before,  &  we  having  no  Victuals,  returned  again  to  the  16 
men  we  had  left  our  packs  with,  &  refreshed  ourselves,  &  then  we 


HISTORICAL   MEMOIRS.  I  7 

all  pursued  the  remaining  part  of  that  day,  &  the  night  ensuing,  6 
miles. 

Feb.  1 8th,  We  Travelled  20  miles  &  Encamped  at  a  Great  Pond 
upon  Saco  River.  19th,  We  Travelled  22  miles  &  Encamped  at  a 
Pond.* 

20th,  We  Travelled  about  5  miles,  &  came  upon  a  Wigwam  that 
the  Indians  had  lately  gone  from,  &  then  we  pursued  their  tracks  2 
miles  further,  &  discovered  their  smokes,  and  there  tarried  till 
about  2  o'clock  in  the  morning,  &  then  came  upon  their  Wigwams 
&  killed  Ten  Indian  Men,  which  were  all  that  were  there,  &  not  one 
escaped  alive. 

2 1  st,  We  came  6  miles.  22d,  We  lay  still  to  see  if  any  would 
pursue  &  kept  Scouts  on  our  Back  tracks.  23d,  travelled  30  miles 
and  came  to  Cochechea.  24th,  We  travelled  to  Oyster  River,  6 
miles.  2qth,  lay  still,  as  our  men  were  lame  in  their  feet.  26th  we 
marched  down  to  Cept.  Knights,  at  Newington,  and  27th,  Went  on 
board  a  sloop  to  come  to  Boston,  where  we  arrived  the  gth  current. 
Mar.  10th,  1724-5. 


"  The  legislature  of  Massachusetts,  by  resolution,  in 
July  1722,  declared  the  eastern  Indians  to  be  traitors 
and  robbers ;  and,  while  troops  were  raised  for  the  war, 
offered  private  men  for  each  Indian  scalp  at  first  a  bounty 
of  fifteen  pounds,  and  afterward  of  a  hundred." 

"  The  overthrow  of  the  missions  completed  the  ruin  of 
French  influence.  The  English  themselves  had  grown 
skilful  in  the  Indian  mode  of  warfare ;  and  no  war- 
parties  of  the  red  men  ever  displayed  more  address  or 
heroism  than  the  brave  John  Lovewell  and  his  com- 
panions. His  volunteer  associates  twice  returned  laden 
with  scalps.  On  a  third  expedition,  in  April  1725,  fall- 
ing into  an  ambush  of  Saco  Indians,  he  lost  his  life  in 
Fryeburg,  near  a  sheet  of  water  which  has  .taken  his 
name  ;  and  the  stream  that  feeds  it  is  still  known  to  the 
peaceful  husbandman  as 'the  Battle  Brook." 

*Love\vell's  Pond,  Wakefield,  N.H. 


WCSB   LIBRARY 


I  8  HISTORICAL   MEMOIRS. 

'•  The  rangers  were  dressed  like  woodmen,  armed  with 
a  firelock  and  a  hatchet,  under  their  right  arm  a  powder- 
horn,  a  leather  bag  for  bullets  at  their  waist,  and  to  each 
officer  a  pocket  compass  as  a  guide  in  the  forests."  — 
(Bancroft's  History,  Vol.  3.) 

"  The  English  borderers  on  their  part  regarded  the 
Indians  less  as  men  than  as  vicious  and  dangerous  wild 
animals.  In  fact  the  benevolent  and  philanthropic  view 
of  the  American  savage  is  for  those  who  are  beyond  his 
reach ;  it  has  never  yet  been  held  by  any  whose  wives 
and  children  have  lived  in  danger  of  his  scalping  knife." 

"  Out  of  the  heart  of  the  White  Mountains  springs  the 
river  Saco,  fed  by  the  bright  cascades  that  leap  from 
the  crags  of  Mt.  Webster,  brawling  among  rocks  and 
bowlders  down  the  great  defile  of  the  Crawford  Notch, 
winding  through  forests  and  intervales  of  Conway,  then 
circling  through  the  village  of  Fryeburg  in  devious 
wanderings  by  meadows,  woods  and  mountains,  and  at 
last  turning  eastward  and  southward  to  the  sea."  — 
Parkman  —  "A  half  century  of  conflict."     Pp.  223,  256. 

FRYEBURG. 

General  Joseph  Frye,  to  whom  the  township  was 
granted  and  in  honor  of  whom  it  was  named,  was  born  in 
Andover,  Mass.,  in  April,  171 1.  He  was  a  Justice  of  the 
Peace  and  a  member  of  the  General  Court. 

He  was  an  ensign  in  Hale's  regiment  at  the  capture  of 
Louisburg  in  1745,  and  a  colonel  when  Montcalm 
captured  Fort  William  Henry  in  1757,  and  escaped  by 
killing  the  Indian  that  had  charge  of  him.  He  was 
appointed  major-general  by  the  Massachusetts  Provincial 
Congress  on  21  June,  1775,  and  was  commissioned  briga- 
dier-general by  the  Continental  Congress  on  10  Jan.,  1 776, 
but  resigned  on  account  of  infirmity  on  23  April. 

One  of  the  original  settlers  of  Fryeburg  in  1763.  He 
died  there  in  1794  and  was  buried  in  the  village  cemetery. 


